Kansas State joins No. 6 Wichita State, No. 18 Kansas in top 25

Wichita State is No. 6 in the Associated Press men’s basketball poll, its highest spot since 1981.

Wichita State University's Fred VanVleet and Northern Iowa's Deon Mitchell go for their ball during their game at Koch Arena. (January 5, 2014)
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A Wichita State fan holds a 15-0 sign in the final seconds of their game against the University of Northern Iowa. WSU has set a new school record for most consecutive wins. (January 5, 2014)
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WSU's Fred VanVleet drives to the basket for two against Northern Iowa's Seth Tuttle in the second half at Koch Arena in Wichita, Ks., Sunday. (Jan. 5, 2014)
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University of Northern Iowa Nate Buchheit and Wichita State University's Ron Baker jump for a loose ball during their game at Koch Arena. (January 5, 2014)
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Wichita State University's Fred VanVleet flexes his muscles toward his bench after being foulded late in the game against Northern Iowa. (January 5, 2014)
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A WSU cheerleader pumps up the crowd as WSU starts to pull way from Northern Iowa in the second half at Koch Arena in Wichita, Ks., Sunday. (Jan. 5, 2014)
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Wichita State University's Fred Van Vleet takes the ball down the court. WSU's Rob Baker fell down during the play bringing Northern Iowa's Jeremy Morgan with him. (January 5, 2014)
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Wichita State University's Nick Wiggins shoots the ball over a Northern Iowa defender during their game at Koch Arena. (January 5, 2014)
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Wichita State University players cheer for their teammates during the final moments of their game against Northern Iowa at Koch Arena. WSU has set a new school record for most consecutive wins with 15. (January 5, 2014)
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WSU's Tekele Cotton shoots for two against Northern Iowa's Deon Mitchell in the second half at Koch Arena in Wichita, Ks., Sunday. (Jan. 5, 2014)
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Wichita State University's Ron Baker shoots the ball while falling to the floor. Defending him is Northern Iowa's Nate Buss. (January 5, 2014)
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Wichita State University's head coach Gregg Marshall excitedly points to Fred VanVleet after he made an amazing play in the final minutes against Northern Iowa at Koch Arena. (January 5, 2014)
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University of Northern Iowa and Wichita State University during an NCAA college basketball game at Koch Arena. (January 5, 2014)
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WSU's Fred VanVleet looks for an opening against Northern Iowa in the second half at Koch Arena in Wichita, Ks., Sunday. (Jan. 5, 2014)
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Wichita State University's head coach Gregg Marshall hugs Fred VanVleet after taking him out of the game in the final moments against Northern Iowa. (January 5, 2014)
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Wichita State University's Fred VanVleet and Northern Iowa's Matt Bohannon go for their ball during their game at Koch Arena. VanVleet was called for a foul on the play. (January 5, 2014)
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Wichita State University's Fred VanVleet is congratulated by his teammate Cleanthony Early after making a couple of great plays in the final minutes of their game against Northern Iowa. (January 5, 2014)
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Wichita State University's Fred VanVleet points to his teammate who passed him the basket for him to make a three-point goal against the University of Northern Iowa at Koch Arena. (January 5, 2014)
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Wichita State University's Tekele Cotton shoots over two Northern Iowa players during their game at Koch Arena. (January 5, 2014)
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WSU coach Gregg marshall congratulates Darius Carter after making a play against Northern Iowa in the second half at Koch Arena in Wichita, Ks., Sunday. (Jan. 5, 2014)
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Wichita State University's Fred VanVleet and Northern Iowa's Matt Bohannon go for their ball during their game at Koch Arena. VanVleet was called for a foul on the play. (January 5, 2014)
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Wichita State University's Cleanthony Early shoots the ball between two Northern Iowa defenders. At left is UNI's Seth Tuttle. (January 5, 2014)
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WSU coach Gregg Marshall congratulates Lufile Chadrack after a big play against Northern Iowa in the second half at Koch Arena in Wichita, Ks., Sunday. (Jan. 5, 2014)
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WSU's Darius Carter (12) shoots for two against Northern Iowa's Seth Tuttle in the first half at Koch Arena in Wichita, Ks., Sunday. (Jan. 5, 2014)
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Wichita State is No. 6 in the Associated Press men’s basketball poll, its highest spot since 1981.

No. 25 Kansas State joined the poll for the first time this season to put the state’s three NCAA Division I teams in the rankings for a second straight season. No. 18 Kansas dropped two spots after Sunday’s loss to San Diego State.

WSU (15-0) received 1,203 points from a panel of writers and broadcasters to rise two spots. It is its loftiest position since the Dec. 29, 1981 poll placed them at No. 2 to complete a six-week rise from No. 6 in the preseason. The Shockers dropped to No. 9 in the next poll after losses to North Carolina State and San Francisco in Hawaii.

The Shockers play Illinois State on Wednesday at Koch Arena and will attempt to extend its school-record winning streak. Sunday’s win broke the standard set by the 1953-54 team.

Kansas (9-4) opens Big 12 play at Oklahoma on Wednesday.

Kansas State (11-3) surged from unranked to No. 25 after Saturday’s 74-71 win over then-No. 6 Oklahoma State. The Wildcats take a nine-game win streak into Tuesday’s game at TCU.

In the USA Today coaches poll, WSU is also sixth, KU is 20th and K-State is not ranked, effectively at No. 35 with five points.